Professor of Reproductive Science · UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health

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UCL – University College LondonEGA Institute for
Women’s Health

Academic & Scientific Work

Professor of Reproductive Science at the EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London.

A global leader in the fields of fertility, genetics, reproductive health and education since 1987 – and a passionate educator of the public and of students at all levels, from school children to PhD.

UCL Publications
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  • 1987working in reproductive science
  • ~300scientific papers
  • 25+years as Director of Education
Portrait of Professor Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at UCL

Career

From the embryology lab to global education

Joyce studied a BSc in Biochemistry at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, and a PhD in Pharmacology at King’s College, University of London.

Further information about Joyce can be found on Wikipedia.

  • StartClinical embryologistStarted her career at the London Fertility Centre with Ian Craft.
  • 1992Hammersmith HospitalJoined Lord Robert Winston to work on preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
  • 1994University College LondonJoined UCL, where she is now Professor of Reproductive Science.
  • 1996First MSc programmeSet up Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine.
  • 2009Second MSc programmeSet up Reproductive Science and Women’s Health.
  • 2014Embryology & PGD AcademySet up with Alpesh Doshi, running training courses in all aspects of laboratory IVF and PGD. In 2018 the Academy launched the Certificate in Clinical Embryology. More
  • 2015Global Women ConnectedEstablished a web-based forum to discuss women’s health issues, and co-founded the Fertility Education Initiative.
  • 2019IRHECCo-founded the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration, designing free educational resources.
  • 2023UK Menopause Education and Support ProgrammeCo-established InTune, co-designing a suite of programmes for women, transmen and non-binary individuals.

Research

Reproductive Science and Society

Joyce heads the Reproductive Science and Society research group. She is passionate about practising evidence-based medicine.

Research interest

Fertility education

Research interest

Menopause

Research interest

Femtech

Research interest

IVF add-ons

Publications

Selected scientific papers

Joyce has published almost 300 scientific papers. A full list can be found on her UCL profile.

Full Publication List

Teaching

Educating the next generation

Joyce was Director of Education at the EGA Institute for Women’s Health for over 25 years and still runs two modules: Fertility and Infertility: Science and Society and New Technology in Reproductive Health.

The Institute now also has an MRes in Reproductive Science and Women’s Health and an MSc in Women’s Health. Watch her video celebrating 20 years of the MSc programmes (1996–2016).

Public engagement

Talks, events and policy

Joyce is invited to give keynote and plenary lectures at numerous international conferences, on infertility, fertility, menopause, reproductive health education, reproductive genetics and all aspects of women’s health.

She runs events to discuss women’s health, including Wellbeing over 40 with talks on nutrition, exercise, sleep, menopause and wellbeing (watch here). She was a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics working party on Genome Editing.

Over the years

Moments from Joyce’s career

Professor Joyce Harper in academic dress at a graduation ceremony
Professor Joyce Harper celebrating graduation with students
Professor Joyce Harper at the United Nations
Professor Joyce Harper with students and colleagues at UCL

Transparency

Declaration of financial interests

Joyce is director of the Embryology and PGD Academy. She has been paid by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority as an advisor to the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee, and as chair for the Horizon Scanning Committee. She has been paid by Natural Cycles for research advice, and for scientific advice by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. In recent years Joyce has been paid by the following companies to give talks: Gedeon Richter, Merck, Cook Medical, Cryos and Theramex. She is sponsored to attend a number of scientific meetings – for a full list see the talks and events page.

Speaking

Invite Joyce to speak

Public and corporate talks on all areas of reproductive health, from puberty to menopause.

Public Speaking
Contact Joyce